You are here:

Calculus/Precalculus

Advertisement


Question
Solve for x: log 3 (tan x) = 1/2.  tan x = the square root of 3

Answer
It can be seen that tan x = √3.  

This means that if the far side is √3, the near side is 1.

If we know the two sides of a right triangle, the hypoteneuse can be determined from these by c² = a² + b².

We can see that c² = √3² + 1² = 3 + 1 = 4.  This means that c is 2.

If you draw the triangle with √3 as the vertical side,
it can be reflected into another triangle that shares 2
as the common side.  Both sides that are pointing up have length 2,
and the bottom side has length 1 + 1 from the mirror image,
so that it is also 2.  Since all the sides are equal,
all the angles are equal.  Since the sum of angles in a triangle
is always 180°, three equal angles each measures 60°.  Now if we cut
that triangle back in half with a vertical line so that we are
looking at our starting triangle, that means we cut the top angle in
half so that it is now a 30° angle.

That's what I know as a 1-2-3 triangle.  
The sides are of length 1, 2, √3 and the angle are
1, 2, 3 times 30°, which, as you can see, is 30°, 60°, 90°.

Calculus

All Answers


Answers by Expert:


Ask Experts

Volunteer


Scotto

Expertise

Any kind of calculus question you want. I also have answered some questions in Physics (mass, momentum, falling bodies), Chemistry (charge, reactions, symbols, molecules), and Biology.

Experience

Experience in the area: I have tutored students in all areas of mathematics for over 25 years. Education/Credentials: BSand MS in Mathematics from Oregon State University, where I completed sophomore course in Physics and Chemistry. I received both degrees with high honors. Awards and Honors: I have passed Actuarial tests 100, 110, and 135.

Publications
Maybe not a publication, but I have respond to well oveer 7,500 questions on the PC. Well over 2,000 of them have been in calculus.

Education/Credentials
I aquired well over 40 hours of upper division courses. This was well over the number that were required. I graduated with honors in both my BS and MS degree from Oregon State University. I was allowed to jump into a few junior level courses my sophomore year.

Awards and Honors
I have been nominated as the expert of the month several times. All of my scores right now are at least a 9.8 average (out of 10).

Past/Present Clients
My past clients have been students at OSU, students at the college in South Seattle, referals from a company, friends and aquantenances, people from my church, and people like you from all over the world.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.